Garment spreader



March 4, 1969 N. L. WRIGHT, JR

,GARMENT SPREADER Sheet Filed Aug. 24, 1966 m m m m NATHANIEL LANCASTERWRIGHT, JR. BY v fiowne, ATTORNEYS March 4, 1969 N. L. WRIGHT, JR3,430,368

GARMENT SPREADER Sheet Filed Aug. 24, 1966 PRESS ARM SWITCH SUPPLY EX HAUST VALVE RELlEF VALVE HHHHIHHH INVENTOR. NATHANIEL LANCASTER WRIGHLJR.BY

6201/0116, j ATTORN EYS Mam}! 1969 N. WRIGHT, JR 3,

v GARMENT; SPREADER Filed Aug. 24, 1966 Sheet 3 of a INVENTOR NATHANIELLANCASTER WRIGHT, JR.

TTORNEYS United States Patent 3,430,368 GARMENT SPREADER NathanielLancaster Wright, Jr., P.0. Box 489, Winder, Ga. 30680 Filed Aug. 24,1966, Ser. No. 574,610 US. C]. 38-21 32 Claims Int. Cl. D06f 71/40,71/08 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention involves a novel devicefor spreading garments incident to a pressing operation, it beingparticularly suitable for the pressing of trousers but need not berestricted thereto.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved device for spreading a garment prior to pressing, which deviceis quickly and easily operable while providing highly effective anddepend-able performance. Included herein is the provision of such adevice which does not leave its imprint on the garment after pressing.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of sucha garment spreader device which is adjustable to suit the size of theparticular garment being pressed.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such garmentspreader device which may be relatively economically manufactured andincorporated into both new or old presses without affecting performanceof the press or unduly encumbering the same.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with theassociated drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a garment press incorporating oneembodiment of the present invention;

' FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmental perspective view of the garmentspreader device included in the press of FIG. 1 with a flow controlsystem for its actuating mechanism schematically shown;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but with the garment spreader devicein another position;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along lines 4-4 of FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a garment spreader device representinganother embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmental cross-sectional view taken along lines66 of FIG. 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings and initially FIG. 1, there is shownfor illustrative purposes only, a typical garment press including a base10, a horizontal table 12 supporting a press pad 14 dimensioned toreceive a garment such as the shown trousers 16. Cooperable with presspad 14 is a press head 20 movable in typical manner between a loading oropen position shown in FIG. 1 and an operative or closed positionoverlying the press pad for pressing trousers. Foot pedals 22 areconventionally provided at the base to control the application of steamin the pressing operation.

Incorporated in the shown press is a cuff spreader device, generallydesignated 24, embodying the present invention. Cuff spreader 24includes a platform 26 having mounted thereon a pair of cuff spreaderelements 28 and 30 adapted to spread and tension trouser cuffs inpreparation for pressing as will be subsequently described in detail.Platform 26 is provided by a rectangular metallic plate of any suitbalematerial such as steel, mounted in horizontal position generally on theback side of the press by a frame including two upright angle members 32secured to longitudinally spaced portions of table 12 by two right anglemembers 34, the latter being bolted to the table. Mounted in uprightframe members 32 in parallel are two slides shown as cylindrical bars 36and 38, extending longitudinally of the table between upright framemembers 32. Platform 26 is mounted for slideable movement along slides36 and 38 by a bearing sleeve 40 which slideably receives upper slide36. Bearing sleeve 40 is fixed to platform 26 by a vertical plate 42welded across the ends of platform 26 and sleeve 40 with the latterextending below the platform. Any suitable bearing (not shown) may beprovided between sleeve 40 and slide 36 to reduce friction. To guide andmaintain platform 26 in horizontal position, a pair of rectangularplates 44 are fixed to opposite sides of sleeve 40 and projectdownwardly to closely straddle lower slide 38.

Provision is made for adjusting platform 26 along slides 36 and 38 toaccommodate for example a particular trouser length, by an elongatedscrew 45 rotatably mounted in frame members 32 between and parallel toslides 36 and 38. Engaged on the threads of screw 45 is a verticalsupport bar 46 having a first passage 47 which is threaded to receivescrew 45 and a second, non-threaded passage 49 which is dimensioned tofreely receive upper slide 36. Vertical support bar 46 carries at itsupper end a motor which is operatively connected to platform 26 to movethe same along slides 36 and 38 during operation of the device as willbe subsequently described. Rotation of screw 45 such as may be manuallyeffected by the hand crank 45a formed on its end, moves vertical supportbar 46 along screw 45 to thereby adjust the position of platform 26along press pad 14.

Cuff spreader elements 28 and 30 are illustrated as planar blades havingelongated main body portions 28a and 30a projecting laterally inparallel from platform 26, and end portions 28b and 30b projecting atright angles from the main body portions so as to be insertable into atrouser leg as shown in FIG. 2. Any suitable material such as stainlesssheet steel may be employed in making cuff spreader blades 28 and 30.

To accommodate different cuff widths, blades 28 and 30 are adjustablymounted to platform 26 by means including elongated slots 50 and 51formed in body portions 28a and 30a to slideably receive one or moreupstanding guide pins 53 fixed on platform 26. In the form of theinvention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, inner blade 30 is adapted to befixed in the desired adjusted position on platform 26 while outer blade28 is free for rectilinear movement laterally of platform 26 forpurposes of spreading and tensioning a cuff. Securement of inner blade30 to platform 26 in the desired position is effected in the showndevice by a threaded bolt 56 upstanding from the platform and aclamping, wing nut 58 threaded on bolt 56 for exerting pressure on blade30 through a washer 59. To adjust the position of inner blade 30, wingnut 58 is loosened to free blade 30 for movement laterally of platform26 as guided by pin 53.

Movement of outer blade 28 laterally of platform 26 to spread or releasethe trouser cuff is effected by means of a motor shown as a fluid airmotor including a cylinder 60 mounted with respect to platform 26 by aright angle bracket 62 secured on the under side of platform 26. Incylinder 60 is a piston 64 having a drive rod 66 which projects from thecylinder and is connected to outer blade 28 by a link shown as agenerally L-shaped crank 70. Crank 70 is mounted on platform 26 by pivot72 for oscillatory pivotal movement in a horizontal plane. One arm 74,of crank 70 is pivotally connected at its end to motor drive rod 66 bymeans of a pin 76 while the opposite crank arm 78 is operativelyconnected to outer blade 28 by means including an elongated slot 80formed in an upwardly offset portion 82 of arm 28. Slot 80 receives athreaded pivot pin 84 which also extends through an elongated slot 86formed in crank arm portion 78. Completing the connection is a wing nut88 threaded on pivot pin 84.

It will be seen that application of air into cylinder 60 will pivotcrank 70 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in the drawings) to retractouter blade 28 inwardly towards platform 26 for purposes of releasingthe trouser cuff. Extension of outer blade 28 to spread the cuff isachieved by a return spring 65 provided in cylinder 60 about drive rod66 as shown in FIG. 4. In one satisfactory embodiment, the parts arechosen and arranged so that spring 65 will be effective to extend outerblade 28 a distance of approximately one inch for spreading a trousercuff. It will be appreciated however that this distance may be varieddepending on the size or type of garment being pressed and moreover theillustrated device may be adjusted to vary the stroke of blade 28.Additionally in certain instances where stretch fabric is to be presseda fluid regulating valve schematically illustrated in FIG. 2 as 115 maybe associated with cylinder 60 to sensitively regulate the pressureapplied to the blades for spreading the garment.

To prevent imprinting of the garment with the shape of blade portions28b and 30b, provision is made for withdrawing the blades from thetrouser leg just prior to contact by press head 20. This is accomplishedby movement of platform 26 along slides 36 and 38 away from the trouserleg just prior to engagement by press head 20. In the form of theinvention illustrated, actuation of platform 26 is achieved by motor 90which is also of the air fluid type including a cylinder mounted in theupper portion of vertical support bar 46 with an underlying diagonalbrace 91 additionally supporting it with respect to bar 46. In cylinder90 is a piston 92 having an operating rod 94 projecting from thecylinder and connected to the upper portion of plate 42 such as by theshown nuts 96 threaded on the end of operating rod 94. In this manneroperating rod 94 is connected to platform 26 such that application ofair in cylinder 90 will be effective to move platform 26 relative tosupport bar 46 along slides 36 and 38. In one embodiment it has beenfound that a two inch stroke of rod 94 and consequently platform 26 willproduce satisfactory results. Return movement of platform 26 for thenext pressing operation is effected by a return spring 98 provided inthe cylinder about rod 94 as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 there is schematically illustrated an airdistribution system for supplying and exhausting fluid motors 60 and 90in a pressing operation. This system includes a supply source 100communicable with fluid motors 60 and 90 through conduits 102 and 104which branch from a main conduit 106 leading from supply source 100.Flow between supply source 100 and motors 60 and 90 is controlled by aconventional supplyexhaust valve 108 through a switch 110 which isactuated by an arm 112 fixed to press head 20 as shown in FIG. 1. Whenpress head 20 is moved in operative pressing position, arm 112 willengage switch 110 to place valve 108 in supply position permitting flowof air from the source 100 to motors 60 and 90. When press head 20 isreturned to its idle position shown in FIG. 1, press arm 112 willdeactivate switch 110 to cause valve 108 to move into exhaust positionpermitting air from cylinder 90 to vent through valve 108 whereuponreturn spring 98 will become effective to move platform 26 back alongslides 36 and 38 for the next pressing operation. However exhausting ofmotor 60 is not controlled by valve 108 but rather is effected through arelief valve 114, of any conventional construction, placed in conduit102 downstream of valve 108. To prevent venting of conduit 102 throughthe valve 108 a check valve 116 is placed in conduit 102 between reliefvalve 114 and supply-exhaust valve 108. Check valve 116 thus only allowsflow to motor 60 from conduit 106 but prevents return flow to conduit106. Relief valve 114 is actuated by means of a foot switch which may bepositioned adjacent pedals 22 for convenience as shown in FIG. 1. Inthis manner venting of motor 60 to cause extension of blade 28 forspreading the garment may be controlled by the operator of the pressmerely by depressing foot switch 118.

A typical operation will now be described. Assuming that platform 26 hasbeen adjusted along slide 36, 38 to suit the inseam length of thetrouser leg, and assuming that air pressure in motor 60 is holding outerblade 28 inwardly in retracted position, the trouser leg is placed onpress pad 14 and the cuff fitted on blade portions 28a and 30a. Reliefvalve 114 is then actuated to vent the air in motor 60 thus allowingreturn spring to retract operating rod 66 thereby extending outer blade28 to spread and tension the trouser leg into the desired position. Thismay also serve to anchor the bottom of the trouser leg so that the pressoperator can easily smooth out the remainder of the trouser leg withoutthe latter creeping or moving along the press pad.

Having properly positioned and spread the trouser leg, press head 20 isbrought downwardly toward press pad 14 and just prior to contacting thetrouser, press head 20 reaches a position in which arm 112 actuatesswitch 110 to move valve 108 into supply position delivering air tomotors 60 and through conduits 102, 104. This causes extension of motoroperating rods 66 and 94 causing outer blade 28 to retract inwardly andplatform 26 to move downwardly along slides 36 and 38 whereby blades 28and 30 are withdrawn from the trouser leg just prior to contact by presshead 20.

After the trouser leg has been pressed and press head 20 is returnedupwardly for the next operation, arm 112 is disengaged from switchcausing valve 108 to move into exhaust position venting air from motor90. Return spring 98 in motor 90 then becomes effective to returnplatform 26 with blades 28 and 30 along the slide for the nextoperation. At this point air pressure is maintained in motor 60 whichmaintains outer blade 28 in retracted position until commencement of thenext cuff spreading operation which is effected by depressing footswitch 118 to vent motor 60 as described above.

Referring now to FIG. 5 there is shown another embodiment of the presentinvention having a preferred frame construction including track 120adapted to be mounted along one side of the press table by a pair ofright angle members 122 provided with holes 124 for bolting to thetable. Slideably mounted on track 120 is a slide 126 shown in the formof a channel, and vertically upstanding from opposite end portions ofslide 126 is a pair of support members 128 and 130 which hold a sliderod 132 in parallel relation to track 120.

Platform 134 is movable along slide rod 132 by means of a dependingstrap or hanger member 136 fixed to a sleeve 138 received on slide rod132. As in the abovedescribed embodiment, platform 134 is actuated alongslide rod 136 by a motor shown as a fluid motor 140 supported in a rightangle bracket 142 fixed on top of vertical support member 128. Theactuating rod (not shown) of fluid motor 140 is connected to platform134 through a right angle member 144 which receives the actuating rodand is fixed thereto in any suitable manner. Thus with the preferredframe of this embodiment, platform 134 with its cuff spreader elements150, 152 may be manually adjusted along track 120 into the desiredposition for a given operation. For facilitating movement of slide 126along track 126 rollers (not shown) may be incorporated in slide 126,and also Teflon, Nylon, or similar strips may be placed between track120 and slide 126.

To fix platform 134 in the adjusted position of the frame, a releaseablelock means is provided such as that including the illustrated nut 145fixed to slide 126 in overlying alignment with an aperture (not shown)in slide 126, and the rod 146 having threads 147 at its lower endengaged in nut 145. The opposite, upper end of rod 146 is receivedthrough an aperture 148 in bracket 142 and has a cranked portion 149providing a handle for actuation. Rotation of rod 146 in one directionwill cause advancement of its threads through nut 145 to engage thelower end of the rod against track 120 to lock the frame and platform134 in position. Opposite rotation of rod 146 will of course disengageit from track 120 to allow manual adjustment of the device along track120.

Another feature of the presently described embodiment is that the cuflspreader blades 150, 152 in spreading a garment are both moved and inopposite directions. In the illustrated form this is obtained bypivoting a link 154 intermediate its ends at 156 between cuff spreaderelements 150, 152 for movement in a horizontal plane. The

opposite end portions of link 154 are pivotally connected to cuffspreader elements 150, 152 while one end of link 154 is extended andpivotally connected to a crank 158 which is pivotable in a horizontalplane by a fluid motor 160.

Upon application of pressure to fluid motor 160 crank 158 will moveclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 5) causing counterclockwise rotation oflink 154 which in turn will cause cuff spreader elements 150, 152 tomove in opposite directions but towards each other for relaxing thegarment. Upon exhausting fluid motor 160, its return spring will causethe opposite movement of crank 158, link 154 and blades 150, 152 to movethe latter apart for spreading the garment. It will be appreciated thatwith this arrangement greater spreading or tensioning of the garment maybe obtained for a given power input from motor 160. Another feature ofthe present embodiment is illustrated in FIG. 6 wherein blades 150 and152 are coated with a low friction material 153 such as nylon, Teflon orother similar substance.

Although in the embodiment illustrated, screws and wing nuts 162 havebeen employed to pivotally connect link 154 to slotted offset portions164 of spreader blades 150, 151, other connectors may be employed toobtain the desired function. Additionally other linkage or motiontransmitting mechanism may be employed to operatively connect motor 160to the spreader blades, in place of that shown in either of theembodiments described above. Moreover the frame and track structure ofthe FIG. 5 embodiment may be employed with the blade structure andactuating linkage of the FIG. 1 embodiment.

Other modifications and adaptations of the present invention readilyapparent from the foregoing description and associated drawings,although not specfically mentioned herein, will nevertheless be includedwithin the scope of the present invention as indicated in the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a garment press having a surface for receivinggarments to be pressed and a movable pressing head for pressing thegarments on the surface; a device for spreading the garment prior topressing including a mounting member positioned generally at one side ofthe pressing surface, a pair of spreader elements projecting laterallyfrom the mounting member and over the pressing surface, the spreaderelements including body portions extending laterally from the mountingmember and end portions extending at an angle from the body portions forengagement with opposite portions of a garment,

one of said spreader elements being movable relative to the otherelement in a direction laterally of the mounting member to spread thegarment, means supporting said mounting member for reciprocable movementalong the press, and first and second actuating means for respectivelymoving the mounting means along the press and said one spreader elementlaterally of the press.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 further including means includinga switch engageable by a member on the pressing head just prior tocontacting the garment to be pressed for causing energization of saidfirst and second actuating means to release the garment just prior tocontact by the pressing head.

3. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said first and secondactuating means each include first and second fluid motors each having apiston and a spring means biasing the piston in one direction, a fluidsupply source, first and second fluid conduits between said fluid motorsand the supply source respectively for conveying fluid to and from thefluid motors to move their pistons in directions opposite to said firstdirection, a check valve in the second conduit between the supply sourceand the second motor for maintaining the fluid pressure in the secondconduit, and a relief valve in the second conduit for venting the secondconduit and to permit return of the piston in the second fluid motorunder the influence of its associated spring means.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 further including a foot switchfor actuating the relief valve to vent the second conduit.

5. The combination defined in claim 3 further including a pressureregulating valve in the second conduit for controlling fluid pressure inthe second motor.

6. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein said means supporting saidmounting member for reciprocable movement along the press includes aslide fixed along the back side of the press and the pressing surfaceand means fixed to the mounting member and slideably movable along theslide.

7. The combination defined in claim 6 further including a verticalsupport member, means for adjusting said support member along the pressparallel to the slide, and means connecting said support member withsaid mounting member such that movement of said support member along thepress will be effective to adjust said mounting member along the slide.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 wherein said first actuating meansis a motor mounted on said support member and having a reciprocableoperating rod forming said means connecting said support member to saidmounting member, said operating rod also serving to move said mountingmember relative to said support member upon actuation of said motor andwherein said second actuating means is supported by said mounting memberfor movement with the mounting member.

9. For use with a garment press or the like; a device for spreadingportions of a garment prior to pressing, the device comprising a frame,a mounting member supported on the frame for reciprocable movement inone direction, actuating means including a first motor for moving themounting member in said one direction, a pair of spreader elements forengaging opposite portions of a garment to be pressed, means mountingthe spreader elements on the mounting member, and a second actuatingmeans including a second motor for moving one of the spreader elementsin a direction generally transverse to said first direction relative tothe other spreader element for spreading and releasing the garment.

10. The device defined in claim 9 wherein said second actuating meansincludes a linkage operatively connected to said movable spreaderelement and the second motor.

11. The device defined in claim 10 wherein said linkage includes a crankhaving opposite ends respectively connected to said movable spreaderelement and the second motor, and means pivotally mounting the crankintermediate its ends to the mounting member for oscillatory movement ina plane generally parallel to the plane of the mounting member.

12. The device defined in claim 11 wherein said second motor is securedwith respect to the mounting member for movement therewith.

13. The device defined in claim 9 wherein said first motor is securedwith respect to the frame and has an operating rod operatively connectedto the mounting member to move the same.

14. The device defined in claim 9 wherein said frame includes a slideextending in said one direction, and said mounting member has meansfixed thereto and received on the slide for movement along the slide.

15. The device defined in claim 14 wherein the frame further includes anelongated screw mounted generally parallel to the slide, a verticalsupport member operatively connected to said support member and havingthreads engaged with the threads of the screw for adjusting the positionof the mounting member along the slide upon rotation of the screw.

16. The device defined in claim 13 wherein said frame includes a trackparallel to said slide, a vertical support member operatively connectedto said mounting member, and a slide means engaged on the track forslideable movement along the track said slide means being fixed to saidvertical support member for mounting same for movement along the track.

17. The device defined in claim 16 further including means forreleasably locking said slide means against movement along the track.

18. The device defined in claim 17 wherein said lastrecited meansincludes a locking member normally mounted in said slide means forengagement and disengagement with said track.

19. For use with a garment press or similar apparatus, a device forspreading portions of a garment prior to pressing, the device comprisinga frame, a mounting platform supported on the frame, a pair of spreaderelements having body portions projecting laterally from the platform andend portions projecting angularly from the body portions to be receivedin the legs of trousers or the like to spread the same prior topressing, first and second means associated respectively with saidspreader elements adjustably mounting said spreader elements withrespect to the platform, one of said means permitting movement of onespreader element laterally of the platform relative to the otherspreader element for purposes of spreading and relaxing the trouser leg,and actuating means for moving said one spreader element laterally ofthe platform.

20. The device defined in claim 19 wherein said first and second meansinclude a pair of elongated slots respectively formed in the bodyportions of said spreader elements and projecting members fixed on theplatform and extending through the slots.

21. The device defined in claim 20 wherein said platform has anupstanding threaded member received through the slot in said otherspreader element, and a clamping nut is received on said threaded memberfor securing said other spreader element on the platform againstmovement.

22. The device defined in claim 19 wherein said actuating means includesa motor and a link operatively connecting the motor to said one spreaderelement to transmit movement of the motor to said one spreader elementto move the latter laterally of the platform relative to the otherspreader element.

23. The device defined in claim 22 wherein said link is a crank havingone end operatively connected to the motor and an opposite endoperatively connected to said one spreader element, said crank having anintermediate portion pivotally mounted with respect to the platform formovement in a plane parallel to the platform.

24. The device defined in claim 23 wherein said motor has a reciprocableoperating rod connected to said one end of said crank, and said motorincludes a spring for moving said operating rod in one direction.

25. For use with a garment press or the like, a device for spreadingopposite portions of a garment, the device including a frame, a mountingmember supported on the frame for movement in one direction along theframe, a pair of garment spreader elements, means mounting said spreaderelements on said mounting member such that one of the spreader elementsis movable relative. to the other spreader element towards and away fromthe other spreader element in a direction transverse to said onedirection between extended and retracted positions for spreading andrelaxing a garment, and power means including a motor for moving saidone spreader element into a retracted position and for moving saidmounting member along the frame in said one direction for withdrawingthe spreader elements from the garment.

26. The device defined in claim 25 wherein said motor is fixed withrespect to said mounting member to be movable therewith, said motorhaving means for extending and retracting at least one of said spreaderelements for spreading and relaxing a garment.

27. The device defined in claim 26 wherein said power means furtherincludes a second motor fixed with respect to the frame and having anactuating member connected to the mounting member for moving saidmounting member in said one direction.

28. The device defined in claim 27 further including means foradjustably positioning the mounting member and said second motor alongthe frame.

29. The device defined in claim 27 wherein said first and second motorsare fluid motors each including a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder,and spring means urging the piston in one direction, and wherein saidpower means further includes a motive fluid supply source for thecylinders, valve means for supplying and exhausting the cylinders, acheck valve for maintaining motive fluid in the cylinder of the firstmotor, and a relief valve between said first valve means and the.cylinder of said first motor for venting motive fluid from the cylinderof said first motor.

30. The device defined in claim 25 wherein said power means is operableto move both of said spreader elements in opposite directions forspreading a garment and to move both of said spreader elements towardseach other for relaxing a garment.

31. The device defined in claim 25 wherein the portions of said spreaderelements which engage the garment are covered withpolytetrafluoroethylene. 32. The device defined in claim 25 wherein saidframe includes a slide and wherein there is further included means fixedwith respect to the mounting member and movable along the slide.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,877,577 3/ 1959 Jacobson 38-662,426,431 8 1947 Blumenfeld 223-39 2,619,267 11/ 1952 Voigt 223-22,737,320 3/ 1956 Bowler 223-2 2,804,244 8/1957 Hunt 223-2 2,879,9263/1959 Newton 223-2 2,853,214 9/1958 Faw 223-2 2,917,211 12/1959Silverman 223-2 3,112,847 12/1963 Brumby 223-2 3,270,926 9/1966 Machota223-70 HERBERT F. ROSS, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner.

